EDITORIAL: Little to celebrate after 61 years of uhuru

Kenya celebrated Jamhuri Day on Thursday, December 12, marking 61 years of self-rule from the British colonialists.

The venue, Uhuru Gardens, is the same spot where the Union Jack was lowered in 1963 and the country’s flag hoisted with great expectations.

It is however saddening that while the country gained self-rule, the citizenry continues to suff er from modern-day colonialists.

Kenyans are still grappling with poverty, ignorance and disease; the three key things the founding fathers promised to eradicate.

Instead, due to selfish, bad and uncaring leaders, corruption has been institutionalised, tribalism cemented, agriculture sector killed to give room to tenderpreneurs to import food and taxes raised to unprecedented levels.

Public and elective offices are no longer for the service and good of Kenyans but for personal enrichment.

Services like education, health, transport and agriculture extension that worked well at independence have long collapsed despite the high cost.

Kenya has great potential but the leaders have been a great disappointment.

Things will only change once voters stop thinking along tribal lines and elect selfless and not selfish leaders.

HISTORICAL QUOTE

“The lesson of history is that you do not get a sustained economic recovery as long as the financial system is in crisis.”

BEN BERNANKE

The American economist who served as the 14th chairman of the Federal Reserve was born December 13, 1953.